In the years since, the shirt has been one way Jordan honors the man who first cultivated his NFL dream.

To describe it as white would not do justice either to that color or the decade's worth of sweat, blood and grass stained in its fibers.

Howard cut the sleeves long ago and added slits to the sides to ensure it still fit as he grew from middle schooler to high school standout to NFL prospect. It's plenty long enough, though, to have lasted into manhood and to symbolize the winding path that got him there.

"My good luck charm," Howard says. "It gives me the spirit and energy to do what I do."

What Howard does is run with purpose. The Bears learned that last week as he bulled his way to 111 yards on 23 carries in his first career start.

Those closest to Howard, however, have known that for years. They have witnessed how the quiet kid from Birmingham, Ala., has persisted through waves of adversity.

First, his father's death. Then the disappointment of a tepid college recruiting process, followed by the uprooting of his college existence at the University of Alabama-Birmingham in 2014.

How Howard repeatedly has lowered his shoulder in life, with the help of family and others, explains his ascent to a Bears starting role while adding to his sense of accomplishment.

"We know God has plans for him, but a lot of times we don't understand the plan," said Howard's mother, Flora Hollis-Williams. "He's seeing everything become manifested into reality through hard work and staying positive."

Jose M. Osorio / Chicago Tribune

Jordan Howard tries to avoid Lions cornerback Nevin Lawson at the end of a 17-yard gain in the third quarter at Soldier Field on Sunday, Oct. 2, 2016.

Jordan Howard tries to avoid Lions cornerback Nevin Lawson at the end of a 17-yard gain in the third quarter at Soldier Field on Sunday, Oct. 2, 2016.

(Jose M. Osorio / Chicago Tribune)

A song goes quiet

Saturday mornings used to belong to Reginald Howard and his son.

He would drive Jordan to his youth football game, just the two of them, stereo blasting the latest rap music. Occasionally it would be something older like Marvin Gaye or The O'Jays. They would sing all the words, the finest father-son duet in Birmingham that no one ever heard.

Football brought them together. Reginald was a two-time all-county selection in high school and played offensive tackle for two years at Tuskegee University before concentrating on academics and eventually becoming a dentist.

When Jordan began playing football in second grade, Reginald gushed with prophecies of NFL greatness.

"He would make such a fuss," Flora said. "I'd say, 'He's just overreacting over his son.' But now we're seeing the things he saw."

White out: The Bears' first victory of the season came with a heavy price. Top receiver prospect Kevin White suffered a spiral fracture in his left fibula and a severe high ankle sprain. It's the same leg in which a stress fracture in his tibia cost him his rookie season. For White...

4 storylines

White out: The Bears' first victory of the season came with a heavy price. Top receiver prospect Kevin White suffered a spiral fracture in his left fibula and a severe high ankle sprain. It's the same leg in which a stress fracture in his tibia cost him his rookie season. For White...

(Rich Campbell, Dan Wiederer and Brad Biggs)

"I just think about all the good times we had," Jordan said sitting at his Halas Hall locker two days before his first start. "And how proud he would be of me making it this far."

His emotions flow easier now than they did back then.

Flora recalled one instance when Jordan was struggling with an instructor at school. He asked her to take him to the cemetery. But after that, the outward mourning stopped.

"He never said anything else about it," she said.

In June, though, after the Bears drafted Howard in the fifth round, their in-house broadcast network sat down with him for a profile piece. With the camera rolling and microphone on, Howard sobbed as he itemized events in his life his dad has missed.

"I know his daddy lives with him in his heart," Flora said. "But to see that raw emotion on the video, that was my first time seeing him actually deal with that situation."

Jose M. Osorio / Chicago Tribune

Jordan Howard on the first day of Bears rookie minicamp at Halas Hall in Lake Forest on Friday, May 13, 2016.

Jordan Howard on the first day of Bears rookie minicamp at Halas Hall in Lake Forest on Friday, May 13, 2016.

(Jose M. Osorio / Chicago Tribune)

The beat goes on

After Reginald died, Flora made clear to other family members she would need help raising her boy. As a human resources manager, she could provide for him, but she wanted to ensure constant guidance remained in his life.

Reginald's siblings were among those who heeded her call. Jordan spent more than one summer with his uncle, Selwynn, an anesthesiologist, near Atlanta.

"Sometimes people go through a period of sadness or anger, so he may not have always been as receptive to me," said Selwynn, who is 10 years younger than Reginald was. "But I never wavered as far as showing up. We rallied around him."

They would be riding in the car and Jordan would regurgitate something Selwynn had mentioned once before. Selwynn came to realize what Jordan's coaches and teammates with the Bears have learned for themselves this year.

The Chicago Bears gained a season-high 408 yards in last Sunday’s win over the Lions partly because they achieved some balance between the run and pass. More specifically, they built on Jordan Howard’s effectiveness running the ball by incorporating some play-action and misdirection into the passing...

The Chicago Bears gained a season-high 408 yards in last Sunday’s win over the Lions partly because they achieved some balance between the run and pass. More specifically, they built on Jordan Howard’s effectiveness running the ball by incorporating some play-action and misdirection into the passing...

(Rich Campbell)

Selwynn's passion for football wasn't rooted as deeply as Reginald's, but he knew of Jordan's NFL aspirations and wanted to keep him motivated. When Jordan was at Gardendale (Ala.) High School, Selwynn noticed people wearing his jersey.

Remembering his brother's vision, he made Jordan a promise.

"I'll wear your jersey," Selwynn said, "when you make it to the NFL."

The first step, though, was getting a college scholarship.

Selwynn was one of several family members who couldn't understand why Jordan wasn't more heavily recruited.

One probable reason is the stress fracture in his pelvis and torn meniscus in his knee that limited his exposure during the second half of his high school career. Rivals, one of the most popular online recruiting outlets, rated him only two of five stars.

If Howard were writing the script at the time, he would have played at Alabama. But the script had been ripped in half long before.

Selwynn and his sisters wrote letters to coaches at programs across the country. Alabama-Birmingham was the only program to offer him a scholarship, though, so Jordan stayed close to home.

But then, another twist. After his sophomore season, the university shuttered its football program.

Jordan Howard's rise to the NFL required a detour after Alabama-Birmingham axed its football program following his sophomore season in 2014. He transferred to Indiana and brought with him the traits...

This is the seventh in our series of conversations with each Bears draft pick's college coaches.

Jordan Howard's rise to the NFL required a detour after Alabama-Birmingham axed its football program following his sophomore season in 2014. He transferred to Indiana and brought with him the traits...

(Rich Campbell)

Jordan's mother drove to campus the December day the news was announced. He wept on her shoulder.

"Even though it was a letdown for him," Flora said, "it was a reward because most kids never get the chance to be recruited twice."

Howard landed at Indiana, about an hour south of where he will play for the Bears Sunday against the Colts.

Hoosiers running backs coach Deland McCullough recruited Howard hard from the moment he became available, captivated by his punishing running style. Two years later, though, Howard's personality left the deepest impression.

"He was such a great role model in our room because he was so driven, so mission oriented," McCullough said. "He didn't let himself get distracted."

As Jay Cutler has little guaranteed money after this season and Ryan Tannehill has millions guaranteed how about a proposed trade: Cutler for Tannehill? Which team would be more likely to nix the trade: Bears or Dolphins? -- Chris N., Temecula, Calif.

There have been a fair number of people that...

As Jay Cutler has little guaranteed money after this season and Ryan Tannehill has millions guaranteed how about a proposed trade: Cutler for Tannehill? Which team would be more likely to nix the trade: Bears or Dolphins? -- Chris N., Temecula, Calif.

There have been a fair number of people that...

(Brad Biggs)

Selwynn and Reginald's sisters, Danita and Lorna, attended the game, but Selwynn could not because he was on call for work. He watched from home.

"I don't want to downplay the NFL, but it was a typical Jordan Howard game," Selwynn said. "He has been groomed for this."

Selwynn was disappointed he had to soak it up from afar, but he did attend the Bears' Week 3 game in Dallas.

Without telling Jordan, he showed up there in a white Bears jersey, customized with No. 24 on both sides and "Howard" across the nameplate.